Microsoft Releases Fix for Surfaces Bricked by Windows RT 8.1 Update

Still no word on when Windows RT 8.1 will return to the Windows Store.

AllThingsD Week in Review: New iPads Ahead, HP’s “Pivotal Year” and Women at Twitter

The Top 10 stories that powered AllThingsD this week, in one convenient post.

Delta to Equip Its 11,000 Pilots With Microsoft Surface 2 Tablets

The airline will use the tablets to replace the bulky paper manuals typically used on planes, a move that it estimated will cut $13 million per year in fuel costs.

Microsoft Says Its New Surface Tablets Are Like Its Old Surface Tablets, but Better

Is that enough? We’ll see in October.

Microsoft Will Buy Your Old Tablets and Smartphones

But only if you trade them in for a new Windows Phone or tablet, of course.

News Byte

Microsoft Wants to Buy Your Old iPad

Own an old iPad that no longer sees much use? Microsoft’s happy to take it off your hands. The company recently began running a new promotion, offering Microsoft Store gift cards in exchange for “gently used” iPads. If you’ve got an iPad 2, 3, or 4 that meets that criteria, Microsoft will give you a minimum of $200 in store credit which you can spend on one of its Surface tablets or any other product available through the Microsoft Store.

Microsoft to Debut Second Generation of Surface Products at September 23 New York Event

The company is expected to revamp its current lineup of tablets, but a rumored “mini” Surface is not on tap for this event.

Windows Unit Gets Fresh Leaders as Phone, PC and Xbox Efforts Move Closer Together

Microsoft is putting together responsibility for the software engineering work that goes into the company’s phone, PC and Xbox.

Microsoft Wants to Keep Licensing Windows Phone to Others, Post-Nokia Deal

Microsoft will be the biggest maker of Windows Phones once it buys Nokia’s device business. But it hopes it won’t be the only one.

For Ballmer, Resistance Was Futile